goinggreek.info

Doctors working with the National Organization for Healthcare Provision (EOPYY) have decided to extend their strike action to January 10 in protest at planned changes to the National Healthcare System (ESY).

The union said emergency incidents would be handled by emergency staff.

Greek doctors working for the country's biggest healthcare provider on Tuesday said that they are extending an ongoing strike until January 24 in demand that the government withdraw a bill for the overhaul of the National Healthcare System (ESY).

Public Power Corporation (PPC) employees are to launch rolling 24-hour strikes from next Tuesday in protest at plans to sell the Independent Power Transmission Operator – known by its Greek acronym ADMIE – one of the power board’s subsidiaries.

Unionists have insisted that the action will not result in power cuts but rather in delays for repairs.

Flights arriving and departing Greece will most likely be disrupted on Thursday 30 January as air traffic controllers have announced that they will join a European air traffic strike.

Greek air traffic controllers have announced they will walk off the job between 11am and 2pm.

Also, according to reports, problems are also to be expected in some Greek regional airports on Wednesday 29 January due to a four-hour work stoppage by the Union of Air Traffic Control Safety Electronic Engineers from 10am to 2pm on both 29-30 January.

The federations of doctors and employees at public hospitals and the health care service EOPYY, as well as Greece’s medical association and dentists’ federation have called a strike on Thursday, February 6.

Greece’s civil servants union, ADEDY, is to hold two 48-hour strikes in the coming weeks.

ADEDY is planning to hold a 48-hour strike on the day the legislation is due to be debated and voted on in Parliament. It is also organizing a 48-hour protest for March 13 and 14 to protest job losses.

The Greek Seamen's Federation (PNO) decided to go on strike as of the early hours of Thursday on ships whose owner companies owe back pay to their crews, as part of protest actions first announced last week.

According to ANA-MPA sources, the union members' strike actions will begin in the morning with ships running schedules in the Argo-Saronic Gulf while from the afternoon on they will gradually spread to scheduled runs to the Aegean Islands.

PNO has also announced two 24-hour-strikes, one that will be held on the day that a bill in connection with cruiseship regulations is tabled in Parliament, while the other is scheduled for April 9, as part of the general strike called by the GSEE union in the private sector.

Greece's largest public sector union says it will join a nationwide general strike April 9 to protest austerity measures. The move means that the walkout will affect all private and public sector services.

The ADEDY union said Thursday it was joining the strike call issued by the GSEE union a few days ago

The national seamen’s union (PNO) was expected to embark on a series of rolling 48-hour strikes on Monday in protest at government legislation that foresees labor contracts being determined through negotiations with individual companies as opposed to the union’s collective contracts agreed with ferry company owners.

After an open-ended strike by pharmacists resulted in huge lines of Greeks seeking medicines, the union representing the sector decided over the weekend to open more duty pharmacies to tackle the fallout of its own industrial action.

The Greek Pharmacists’ Association said on Saturday that additional pharmacies would open their doors and that duty pharmacies would be “reinforced” with more staff and fresh supplies “to avoid inconveniencing the public to as great a degree as possible.”

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis lashed out at striking pharmacists over the weekend, accusing them of holding Greek citizens hostage to achieve their trade union goals.

Unionists have accused the government of overhauling the sector under pressure by the troika to serve big business interests and cartels.

Pharmacies will reopen on Tuesday, following a strike last week that shut all but a few standbys, according to the National Pharmacists Association (PFS) on Monday, which decided to postpone its strike over the provisions of the omnibus bill voted in Parliament past midnight on Sunday.

The National Association will also participate in ADEDY's national strike on April 9.

Hi Maik. We are trundling through Europe by car at the moment on the way back to kef and wondered if you knew whether the seamen's strike was affecting Superfast and Kefalonia Lines? No doubt we will find out about Superfast when we get to Ancona on Friday, but not sure how to check on the Kylinni Poros route for Saturday.

I heard unofficially yesterday Kefalonian Lines were hoping to run a Poros - Kyllini - Argostoli - Kyllini- Poros service around 15:00 today and I *think* it ran (around 16:00) - will check later when I'm down in Poros port. As for Saturday and Superfast... I'll try to find out.

We arrived from Ancona on Monday (superfast) We have been stuck in Kyllini since Monday. We caught a ferry Dionesius Solomas from Kyllini to poros at 6.30 today. Also the Kefalonia sailed from Kyllini to Zakinthos, both ships allegedly broke the strike, good luck!

Sea transport connections resume today between the continent and the Greek islands after a strike declared March 31 by the National Federation of Maritime Workers suspended ferries to protest government policy on the sector.

Maritime workers will take part in a 24-hour general strike set April 9 by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), a statement released by the Panhellenic Seamen's Union (PNO) read.

Greece's public hospital employees have decided to go on strike over the huge staff shortages and lack of materials.

The federation has also called its members to gather outside the Health Ministry before attending the 24-hour joint Gsee and Adedy strike on Wednesday. On Friday the 11th of April there will be a five-hour walkout and a demonstration outside the Health Ministry and regional healthcare services at noon. A major wave of protest action in the healthcare sector will begin on the 28th of April with a 24-hour strike.

The federation has complained about serious staff shortages, as about 15,000 employees have retired and their positions still remain vacant.

Producers who sell their agricultural goods at open-air markets around the country launched an open-ended strike on Monday in protest at proposed changes to legislation governing how the markets are managed.

Railway operator Trainose said it would cancel services late Wednesday and all services on Thursday, after railway workers announced they will join the Labor Day strike called by private sector union GSEE on May 1.

The union representing employees of the Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday said that it will be calling off a strike scheduled for Monday and Tuesday after an appeal by tourism professionals to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to avert any action that may hurt arrivals.

The strike was not expected to lead to any flight cancellations as it did not include air traffic controllers but it was still expected to cause delays and general upheaval.

ATHENS, July 1 (Reuters) - Workers at Greece's state-controlled power utility PPC will stage a series of strikes from Wednesday, in the midst of the summer tourism season, to protest government plans to privatise the firm, their union leader said.

Greece is beginning to emerge from a six-year recession and has pinned its hopes on record tourism arrivals this year to help boost its economy. The government has suggested it may force people on strike back to work if power supplies are disrupted.

Most parts of the country are expected to be without power at various points during the day on Thursday as Public Power Corporation (PPC) workers begin rolling strikes in protest at the government’s privatization plans, which Prime Minister Antonis Samaras insisted he has no intention of abandoning.

An increase in the number of flights arriving in and departing from Greece is putting local air-traffic controllers under too much stress, their union said on Wednesday as it announced plans to launch protest action next month.

All the bleeding-heart animal lovers might protest at the plight of brick kiln donkeys in Nepal (http://www.occupyforanimals.org/nepal--brick-kiln-donkeys-face-the-most-extreme-working-conditions-excruciating-injuries-and-disease.html) but, obviously, it's not the fault of the owners - it's just a damn lazy donkey who needs a good whipping to get it back to work.

Look on the bright side, BeeTee - ATC staff might not be on the job the day you fly ;)

The union representing local authority employees (POE-OTA) announced its decision on Tuesday to join rolling strike action called by the umbrella union for civil servants (ADEDY) to protest a troika-mandated evaluation program for civil servants.

An Athens court on Thursday ruled that a strike called by Greek air traffic controllers this weekend, October 4 and 5, was illegal. As a result of the court’s decision, air travel was expected to run smoothly across the country on those days.

Being that more people will be leaving than arriving I figured the strike would be deemed legal so as to seriously delay departure and thus wring the very last drachmas out of departing tourists :dunno:

Various union groups have joined their voices with that of the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) in a massive national rally due to take place on November 1. Specifically, the organizations, federations, regional trade unions and other associations number 527 and are calling for:

The country's umbrella union representing workers in the private sector, known by its Greek acronym GSEE, on Friday called a 24-hour strike for November 27 to protest austerity measures being enforced as part of Greece's loan agreement with international creditors.

The civil servants' union, ADEDY, is also planning protest action for next month.

ATHENS, NOVEMBER 5 - Ships and ferries will not be operating tomorrow in Greece due to a 24-hour strike called by the National federation of port employees (Omyle) to protest against the government's planned privatization of ports.

Yes, local services don't seem too affected by 'national' strikes, especially when it's port workers on strike rather than ferry crew. Possible the wind could affect services today so, for anyone planning a ferry crossing to/from the mainland, still a good idea to check ahead.

The Panhellenic Seamen’s Union (PNO) said on Wednesday that it would join a general strike on November 27 by the country’s two main labor unions, ADEDY and GSEE, meaning that ferries will remain moored across the country on that day.

Meanwhile the Athens Journalists’ Union (ESIEA) called on its members to hold a three-hour walkout next Thursday and hold its own 24-hour walkout on Wednesday, meaning that no newspapers will circulate on the day of the general strike.

Passenger ferries will remain tied up at Greece's ports on Friday, May 1, preventing thousands of Labor Day travelers from reaching their destinations, as the PNO union of ferry workers on Tuesday declared it a strike day.

Members of the civil servants’ union, ADEDY, are to walk off the job on Wednesday from noon until the end of their shifts in a protest to show solidarity with state hospital employees who are to hold a one-day walkout on that day to express their objections to cutbacks.

The Federation of Civil Aviation Authority Unions (OSYPA), which does not include air-traffic controllers, on Friday called a 48-hour strike for May 31 and June 1, a walkout that could cause disruption for those travelling over the Whit Monday long weekend.

It remained unclear whether domestic and international flights would be cancelled as air-traffic controllers have not indicated that they will join the action.

Some pharmacies will be closed on Wednesday, following a decision by the Panhellenic Pharmacists’ Association to protest an agreement between the Greek government and the country’s creditors that will permit the sale of over-the-counter medicines at supermarkets and provisions that would relax restrictions on who can open pharmacies.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday, the head of the association, Constantinos Lourantos, declared, “You transformed a proud ‘no’ into a subservient ‘yes to everything.’”

The union representing workers at Greece’s municipal and regional authorities, POE-OTA, on Monday heralded a 24-hour strike on the day that the government brings to Parliament a raft of tough measures that have been demanded by the country’s creditors in exchange for further funding.

In a statement, the union complained that the new austerity being prepared by the government followed a referendum in which a majority of Greeks rejected tough terms proposed by creditors.

I hope I'm just being pessimistic but it is not difficult to envisage a scenario whereby there are a considerable number of strikes that lead onto civil disturbances which, coupled with political opposition to the measures, could lead to a government of "National Unity" which would pass laws suspending elections for the duration of the "national emergency". In other words the end of democracy in the country that invented it.

A bleak view, perhaps, but in a country that has suffered the Metaxas dictatorship and the Junta???

Some might say elections don't need to be suspended when the government holds a referendum and does the opposite of what the majority vote for. If there's been a coup then some might say it's been pulled off by Tsipras, although if there were elections I don't think the result would make much difference to the options open to Greece: toe the EU (i.e. German) line or be cast out.

Public sector union ADEDY on Tuesday called a 24-strike of all civil service workers on Wednesday to coincide with the first round of voting in Parliament on a raft of new austerity measures needed to clinch a third bailout deal with Greece’s international creditors.

Some might say elections don't need to be suspended when the government holds a referendum and does the opposite of what the majority vote for. If there's been a coup then some might say it's been pulled off by Tsipras, although if there were elections I don't think the result would make much difference to the options open to Greece: toe the EU (i.e. German) line or be cast out.

Would being "cast out" be significantly worse than what the Greeks are faced with now? More of the same, ie austerity, will simply lead to more of the same, ie deepening poverty. The only thing that can be said for the settlement is that the Krauts have taken charge so they have to make it work which almost certainly means that Germany will have to keep pouring money in to prop up an increasingly derelict country.

The union representing Greece’s air traffic controllers Thursday announced a four-hour walkout on Wednesday, August 5, and warned of further action unless a bill foreseeing the adoption of European Union regulations governing working conditions, labor rights and administrative issues is submitted in Parliament.

Air traffic controllers at airports across Greece have announced a 4-hour work stoppage on 5 August from 14.00-18.00 local time. Further air traffic control strike action is also possible on 14 and 15 August. If you may be affected, please contact your airline or tour operator for advice.

The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has called a 48-hour strike, effective as of 6am on Monday, November 2, until 6am on Wednesday, November 4, in response to “the new regulations and requirements of the third memorandum”.

PNO said it will also participate in the 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) on November 12.

The union of Greek seamen, PNO, on Tuesday announced fresh protest action with a 48-hour strike commencing on Wednesday morning, on the back of a two-day strike on Monday and Tuesday.

The first strike was meant to end at 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning but PNO’s executive committee decided to continue the action... ferry boats will remain tied at port for four consecutive days, seriously affecting the transport of goods and passengers to and from Greece’s islands.

"We didn't really know that there was going to be a strike, we just kind of arrived and we planned for this one day in Athens and we kind of wanted to see that thing (the Parthenon)," one tourist from Alaska said.

Services at public hospitals are expected to be disrupted on November 26 and 27 after the union representing Greek state hospital workers, known by its acronym POEDIN, decided Tuesday on a two-day strike to protest working conditions and cutbacks.

Greece's largest private sector union has called a 24-hour general walkout in protest against the government’s planned pension reforms demanded by international lenders under the cash-strapped country's third bailout package.

The General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), which represents approximately 2 million workers, said on Wednesday that its members will go on strike on December 3.

Looks like ADEDY, the public employees' union, will be joining the strike on 04/02/16: Unions gear up for general strike on February 4 (http://www.ekathimerini.com/205113/article/ekathimerini/news/unions-gear-up-for-general-strike-on-february-4)

The association representing Greek retailers, ESEE, on Tuesday urged its members to join a nationwide strike on February 4 organized by the country’s two biggest unions, GSEE and ADEDY, which is expected to bring much of the country to a standstill.

Greek ferries are to remained moored in their ports on Friday and Saturday after the union representing the country's seamen called a new 48-hour strike in a continuing protest against the government's plans for pension reform.

The association representing Greek retailers, ESEE, on Tuesday urged its members to join a nationwide strike on February 4 organized by the country’s two biggest unions, GSEE and ADEDY, which is expected to bring much of the country to a standstill.

No commercial flights will arrive at or depart from Athens International Airport on Thursday due to the participation of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, which includes air traffic controllers, in a nationwide strike called by the country’s public sector union, ADEDY.

Flights to and from all Greek airports scheduled for April 7 have been cancelled due to the participation of air traffic controllers and civil aviation employees to a 24-hour strike called by public sector union ADEDY, their union said on Tuesday.

According to the air traffic controllers’ union, the strike will start at 00:01 after midnight, on early Thursday morning and will end on midnight on Thursday.

Unions representing accountants, tax experts and consultants have announced they will refrain from submitting the tax declarations of their clients until April 18 to protest pension reforms, which, they say, will oblige them to pay up to 70 percent of their income in taxes and social security payments.

Greek civil aviation workers plan a five-day strike next week in protest at the long-term lease of 14 regional airports, complicating government efforts to implement a privatization program linked to the country's bailout.

Authorities agreed to lease the airports to German operator Fraport last year and are now considering offering concessions for 23 others.

The walkout, called by civil aviation workers union OSYPA from June 20-25, is expected to disrupt domestic and international flights as airports will operate with emergency staff only.

Greek civil aviation workers plan a five-day strike next week in protest at the long-term lease of 14 regional airports, complicating government efforts to implement a privatization program linked to the country's bailout.

Authorities agreed to lease the airports to German operator Fraport last year and are now considering offering concessions for 23 others.

The walkout, called by civil aviation workers union OSYPA from June 20-25, is expected to disrupt domestic and international flights as airports will operate with emergency staff only.

ANNOUNCEMENTKindly be advised that the Federation of Hellenic Civil Aviation Associations has expressed their intention to go on strike from 20 until 24.06.16. No official Aeronautical notice has been issued yet. Kindly note that in case the strike is officially announced only some domestic flights will be affected within Greece. Relevant information will be available at our call center 24 hrs prior your departure & at our website. For any further information, you may contact your airline.

The strike was quietly announced on 10/06/16 and still no-one really seems to know what will happen, here's the latest from the FCO:

Quote

The Federation of Civil Aviation unions have announced a 5 day strike from Monday 20 June to Friday 24 June 2016. There’s likely to be some disruption to a number of domestic and international flights in Greece, but it’s not yet clear which airports or services will be affected. If you’re due to travel in this period, contact your airline or travel company for more information.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

I've heard the unions may shut the skies over Greece to pretty much everything except emergency and military flights, the general impression I get from the media is that the strike will have relatively little effect... we'll see. AS AIA and FCO say: if you're planning to fly, keep in contact with your carrier.

Greek civil aviation workers suspend strike after talks with government

ATHENS, June 17 (Reuters) - Greek civil aviation workers suspended a five-day strike planned for June 20-25 to protest against the development of the country's regional airports after receiving assurances from the government their jobs were not at risk.

Greek labor unions are organizing strikes and protests against a plan to place major state assets under the control of a new privatization fund that will be headed by bailout creditors.

The fund called the Hellenic Company of Assets and Participations will take control of public utilities and other assets for 99 years if parliament approves draft legislation late Tuesday. The Greek Finance Ministry will appoint the majority of members on the fund's executive board, but lenders will appoint its chairman.

The asset move is part of measures demanded by creditors from other eurozone nations as part of Greece's third consecutive international bailout. Creditors argue that Greece's privatization program had been moving too slowly.

Unions launched strikes and work stoppages this week at the state water company and other affected utilities, and called for protests outside parliament during the debate before Tuesday's vote.

Latest update:Summary: Greek trade unions have cancelled proposed strike action that was due to affect domestic flights in Greece on 29 and 30 September.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

Think it was a late decision, Aegean and Olympic had announced cancellation of many internal flights inc. OA 414/415 Athens-Kefalonia-Athens today https://en.about.aegeanair.com/media-center/press-releases/2016/akurwseis_29-30_09/

Air-traffic controllers are to begin four 24-hour rolling strikes on Sunday to protest the draft law regarding changes to the Civil Aviation Authority. The strike is expected to mean no flights in or out of Greece for four days.

Greek trade unions have announced a series of strikes that are expected to cause disruption to a number of domestic flights until 8 October and international and domestic flights on 9-10 and 12-13 October. Contact your airline or tour operator if you intend to travel on those dates.

Updated:10 October 2016Latest update:Summary - planned strikes by Greek trade unions affecting international and domestic flights on 9-10 and 12-13 October have been called off; there may, however, be disruption to some flights; contact your airline or tour operator for more information if you intend to travel on those dates

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/greece

However, seems not all flights will be re-instated:

Quote

EasyJet has admitted that almost half of flights cancelled ahead of a planned strike affecting Greek air traffic control will not operate despite the industrial action being called off.

Other airlines such as Monarch said their scheduled would run as normal after strikes planned to take place on Sunday and Monday as well as Wednesday and Thursday were abandoned.

The union representing Greek seamen, PNO, on Tuesday announced a 24-hour strike for Thursday, November 24, which means that there will be no passenger ferry services to and from the Greek islands or Italy.

The union representing Greek seamen, PNO, on Tuesday announced a 24-hour strike for Thursday, November 24, which means that there will be no passenger ferry services to and from the Greek islands or Italy.

INKEFALONIA.GR are informing us of a '48 hour seaman's strike, with all ships tied up in harbors across the country from 6am on the morning of Friday December 2 until 06.00 Sunday, December 4, followed by the 24-hour strike on Thursday 8th of December'.

The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced a 48-hour nationwide strike in all ship categories from 6 am on Friday, December 2, until 6 am on Sunday, December 4. It is reminded that PNO recently announced a strike for Thursday, December 8.

Following its two-day strike on Friday and Saturday, the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) announced a new 48-hour strike in all ship categories from 6 am on Sunday, December 4, until 6 am on Tuesday, December 6.

Calling the extension of the strike, the umbrella federation, the Panhellenic Seamens Federation (PNO) warned there is a chance the action will be extended by its 13-member unions. The PNO has already announced seafarers will participate in the nationwide private sector’s 24-hour strike, on 8 December. It has also said it is not planning to back down until the government does.

The strike is due to finish at midnight on Thursday night. I would think there would be an outcry from supermarkets, hospitals etc, if the strike was to continue, let alone all the people marooned on the mainland, islands - and one couple at Ancona!

However, on a good note, there is plenty of petrol and heating diesel at the Valeriano petrol station - they had obviously planned ahead!

The seafarers’ union decided to prolong their strike for two more days, during a meeting on Thursday. The new strike begins on Friday at 6am and will last till Sunday morning at 6am. This means the ships will be docked at ports at least till Sunday.

In a surprise move on Friday morning, two ferry companies covering regional routes in Zakynthos broke the new 48-hour strike announced by the Greek seamen’s federation and resumed regular services between the island and Kyllini.

According to the two companies, “Ionian Group” and “Kefalonian Lines” the decision was taken on Thursday night as the needs of the island for food, medical supplies and fuel was reaching critical levels.

Heard that Kefalonian Lines Nisos Kefalonia performed the Poros-Kyllini-Poros route this morning but, at the moment, it's uncertain whether further crossings will be performed until the strike is ended. As usual, best to contact ferry agent for up-to-date info if you need to make the crossing.

Well done! It is about time that the striking unions are stopped from holding peoples lives to ransom! they need bringing under control. We have been caught up in ferry strikes three times, coming back from Italy, a holiday wrecked, and stuck in Patra hospital. It cost us money for accommodation in Patra and Kylini.We saw first hand the desperate plight that some Greeks were in, they had no money to spare for accommodation. when we were at Kylini a ferry arrived and broke the strike thankfully, it had its AIS switched off so it could not be tracked!

The Panhellenic Maritime Association, the seamen’s workers’ union, decided to suspend its strike on Saturday morning. This means that all ship routes start to operate normally in all ports of mainland and island Greece. As the union’s general secretary Yiannis Chalas explained, the seamen understood the trouble the strike would have caused to the Greek society in light of the Christmas holidays and decided to postpone its actions. Commenting on the latest development, Shipping, Transport and Island Policy Ministry Minister Panagiotis Kouroumblis said reason had prevailed.

Starting to see the effects of the strike in the UK!We regularly purchase some Greek Red Wine from TESCO; the space on the shelf is now empty with a sign stating temporarily out of stock. Dwindling exports; Another economic consequence for Greece!

Starting to see the effects of the strike in the UK! We regularly purchase some Greek Red Wine from TESCO; the space on the shelf is now empty with a sign stating temporarily out of stock. Dwindling exports; Another economic consequence for Greece!

Mavrodaphne? Only Greek wine I could find in Tesco. So we bought eight bottles (but we did leave one for you ;)!). Just in case you haven't seen it, Morrisons do a Mavrodaphne, £5.50 same as Tesco but not a known brand. However, it's similar in taste to the Kourtaki and not as sweet as Achaia Claus. They also do ouzo for the same price as Tesco, again, not a well-known brand.

Anyone know where we can pick up some Metaxa? Tesco used to stock it, plus the 'odd' Greek wine (such as retsina).

Mavrodaphne? Only Greek wine I could find in Tesco. So we bought eight bottles (but we did leave one for you ;)!). Just in case you haven't seen it, Morrisons do a Mavrodaphne, £5.50 same as Tesco but not a known brand. However, it's similar in taste to the Kourtaki and not as sweet as Achaia Claus. They also do ouzo for the same price as Tesco, again, not a well-known brand.

Anyone know where we can pick up some Metaxa? Tesco used to stock it, plus the 'odd' Greek wine (such as retsina).[/quote]Spot On Maik! :yiamas:

Starting to see the effects of the strike in the UK! We regularly purchase some Greek Red Wine from TESCO; the space on the shelf is now empty with a sign stating temporarily out of stock. Dwindling exports; Another economic consequence for Greece!

Mavrodaphne? Only Greek wine I could find in Tesco. So we bought eight bottles (but we did leave one for you ;) !). Just in case you haven't seen it, Morrisons do a Mavrodaphne, £5.50 same as Tesco but not a known brand. However, it's similar in taste to the Kourtaki and not as sweet as Achaia Claus. They also do ouzo for the same price as Tesco, again, not a well-known brand.

Anyone know where we can pick up some Metaxa? Tesco used to stock it, plus the 'odd' Greek wine (such as retsina).

State hospitals will be operating on skeleton staffs on Thursday as doctors walk off the job in protest at a new batch of planned changes to the social security system that will see their pensions reduced further and their contributions increased.

Political reactions at prospect of privatization of dominant power utility; union calls strike

Increased speculation in Athens this week that the leftist Greek government will concede to creditors' standing demands for a liberalization of the energy sector, especially in terms of power generation and transmission, is causing major political ripples.

The first full-blown reaction to the prospect is a major strike announced by the union representing most of the workforce for the Public Power Corp.

The country’s civil servants’ union ADEDY and the main private sector union GSEE confirmed on Tuesday that they would hold a joint 24-hour walkout for May 17 to protest additional austerity measures agreed to by the government in a deal sealed with creditors.

Not clear which Tuesday and Wednesday but as Kathimerini have previously reported the strike on 16 & 17 May I'm thinking this might be a newly announced strike for this week coming. As usual... anyone planning a ferry crossing should, perhaps, check ahead...

I suspect the buses aren't included but it is crucial as you say. I've tried getting reliable and up to date info out of KTEL sites... so I'll probably phone them! Preveza KTEL has at least three numbers for its ticket office so you see what I mean!

Greek hospital doctors have announced a 48-hour strike on May 17 and 18 in response to the “unpopular measures” included in the recent deal between the government and the country’s international creditors.

Bus routes will also be disrupted due to intermittent work stoppages on May 16, 17 and 18.

The Athens Mass Transit System (OASA) has declared a series of industrial actions that will disrupt public transport on May 16 and 18 in Athens. The workers’ union issued a statement protesting against the government’s agreement to a new memorandum linked to a set of harsh measures against social groups and employees. Buses will not be running on May 16 from 11am till 4pm, on May 17 and 18 from the start of the shift till 9am and from 9pm till the end of the shift.

Greek hospital doctors have announced a 48-hour strike on May 17 and 18 in response to the “unpopular measures” included in the recent deal between the government and the country’s international creditors.

Bus routes will also be disrupted due to intermittent work stoppages on May 16, 17 and 18.

:hmm: Looks as though you might be inconvenienced, Tony. Hope you have a good break, anyway.

Thanks Maik. I phoned the ticket office at Preveza KTEL (seeing that they hadn't replied to my message off their site). A nice man told me there wouldn't be a problem. And I'm not planning on seeing a doctor.

Blimey, Rog, the mail still gets through!?! Is the government sending lots of bills out, or summat?

PNO strike continues:

Quote

PNO Announces New Strike, No Ferries in Greece on May 18-19

Ferries in Greece will be docked for four days in a row, due to strike action of the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO).

PNO announced on Tuesday that it will hold a second 48-hour nationwide strike in all ship categories from 00:01 on Thursday, May 18, until 24:00 on Friday May 19. The industrial action will follow a strike scheduled to run from 00:01 on Tuesday, May 16, until 24:00 on Wednesday, May 17.

4-day nationwide strike called by local authority staff unions in Greece

Municipal services throughout the country are set to shut down for four days, from Saturday until the following Tuesday, due to strike action announced by local authority staff unions demanding permanent jobs for local government contract workers and municipal nursery employees.

Municipal authorities have appealed to local residents and businesses to avoid putting rubbish out onto the street until the strike ends, while scheduled sports and cultural events have been cancelled.

Strike action by state doctors and nurses is expected to affect services at hospitals around the country Wednesday.

The Panhellenic Federation of Public Hospital Workers (POEDIN) has called on staff in Athens to walk off the job from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. while union members in other parts of the country will hold a 24-hour strike.

Ferries will remain docked throughout next Thursday after the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) said on Friday that it would be joining a general strike called for that day by the country's two main labor unions, GSEE and ADEDY.

The PNO said it will hold a 24-hour strike on December 14, from midnight to midnight.

A union representing air traffic controllers in Greece on Wednesday announced a three-hour work stoppage (10.00 to 12.00 GMT) for Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, in protest over a vote the same day in Parliament of a draft bill that includes a provision mandating a "50 percent+1" approval of any strike action by due-paying members of a primary level trade union.

The industrial action will coincide with a similar work stoppage declared by a nationwide union representing civil servants.

One of the most politically contentious aspects of the bill is the change to the rules governing strikes by unions. According to the draft legislation, at least half of the paid-up members of first-level unions will have to vote before a strike can be called. The current proportion stands at a third. The private sector union GSEE and its public sector counterpart ADEDY have said they will protest this measure.

The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced that on Tuesday, May 1, it will participate in industrial action called by the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) and hold a 24-hour strike to mark May Day.

Worker union groups, along with social and scientific groups, called for May 30 to be labeled a national action day in opposition to austerity, unemployment, excessive taxation, they said on Wednesday.

GSEE, ADEDY, GSEVEE, ESEE and TEE worker union groups are participating in the protest action, along with lawyers, doctors, pharmacists and pensioners. The head of GSEE Yiannis Panagopoulos said that the action is open to all.

The heads of GSEE and ADEDY also announced that they will propose a 24 hour walkout for May 30 - a general strike in the private and public sectors.

Ferries will remain moored at Greek ports on Monday, 3 September, after the union representing the country’s seamen called a 24-hour strike following fruitless talks with ship operators to renew a collective pay agreement.

Local authority workers will go on strike on Monday in protest at a series of accidents suffered by garbage collectors.

The union representing local authority workers, POE-OTA, called the strike on Friday after the 53-year-old driver of a municipal garbage truck was crushed when he lost control of his vehicle near the capital’s main landfill in Fyli, northwestern Athens.